Method for transforming the temperature of heat and heat transformer

Abstract

A method for transforming heat to a higher temperature and a heat transformer. By supplying heat of intermediate temperature T1 to a solid adsorbent at a low pressure, a previously adsorbed working fluid is desorbed from the solid adsorbent. The generated working fluid vapor is transformed to a liquid phase at a lower temperature T0 while releasing the phase changed heat. At relatively high pressure, heat is supplied to a liquid phase of the working fluid, which is transformed to the gaseous phase, which is then adsorbed in a solid adsorbent while liberating the heat of adsorption. The process is continued by alternately regenerating/saturating the solid adsorbent. The use of an absorbent fluid for changing the phase of the working fluid allows higher output temperatures and choice of the pressure levels used. An internal heat exchange method is included for the efficient use of the sensible heat of the solid adsorbent in systems with two or more containers with solid adsorbent.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for upgrading the temperature of heat in connection with a heat transformer comprising: supplying heat at an intermediate temperature T 1  to an adsorber/generator containing a solid adsorbent to desorb a working fluid from the solid adsorbent at a working fluid pressure p 0  ;   transforming said working fluid from the vapor to the liquid phase at a lower temperature I O  while liberating heat,   transforming the liquid phase of said working fluid to a gaseous phase at a higher working fluid pressure p 1  while taking up heat at an intermediate temperature T 1  ;   introducing said gaseous working fluid into a further adsorber/generator containing said solid adsorbent where said gaseous working fluid is adsorbed and liberates heat at a higher temperature T 2  ;   desorbing and adsorbing alternately (and shifted in phase) in the two or more adsorber/generators; and   using the adsorbent to change the phase of the working fluid from gas to liquid while liberating heat at low pressure p O  and low temperature T o  and an adsorbent fluid which takes up heat and changes the phase of the working fluid from liquid to gaseous at a higher working fluid pressure p 1  and at the intermediate temperature T 1 .   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises using a solid adsorbent selected from the group consisting of zeolite and activated carbon.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises using a working fluid selected from the group consisting of water and methanol.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2, wherein said method further comprises using as an adsorbent liquid, an aqueous salt solution selected from the group consisting of LiBr, LiCl, CaCl, Zn Br and mixtures thereof, for changing the phase of said working fluid in at least one of said adsorber/generators.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises during desorption from said solid adsorbent, at given temperatures T 2  and T 1 , reducing the pressure of said working fluid to a pressure p 1  which is low enough to permit the use of the selected adsorbent for a certain number of cycles without deterioration of the adsorbent quality of the selected adsorbent.   
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said method further comprises using a maximum working fluid pressure of 1 bar absolute and adsorber/generators having thin walls which are supported against outside pressure by the solid adsorbent inside.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises modifying the working fluid pressures p 0  and p 1  by adjusting the working fluid concentration in at least one adsorbent liquid such that maximization of adsorbed working fluid mass per adsorption cycle is achieved for given temperatures T 0 , T 1 , T 2 .   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises using two independent adsorbent fluids in said adsorber/generators, to change the phase of said working fluid, where the first adsorbent liquid is heated at intermediate temperature T 1  before or while desorbing working fluid from said first adsorbent liquid at a pressure p 1 , while the second adsorbent liquid is cooled at a lower temperature T 0  while or after said second adsorbent liquid adsorbs said working fluid at a lower pressure p 0 .   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises using at least one of said first and second adsorbent liquids in a chemical process, in which at least one of heat transference and solution concentration or dilution, occurs.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises after completion of the adsorption and desorption phase, exchanging heat between two or more adsorber/generators.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises equalizing the pressure between at least two of said adsorber/generators being in opposite phases of operation, wherein said working fluid is desorbed in the adsorber/generator(s) being at a relatively higher pressure,   and said working fluid is adsorbed in the adsorber/generator(s) being at a relatively lower pressure.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises, exchanging heat between two or more adsorber/generators after completion of the adsorption and desorption phase, and then   equalizing the pressure between at least two of said adsorber/generators being in opposite phases of operation, wherein said working fluid is desorbed in the adsorber/generator(s) being at a relatively higher pressure, and   said working fluid is adsorbed in the adsorber/generator(s) being at a relatively higher pressure.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises during at least part of the pressure equalization step, at least one of producing in an adsorber/generator with low working fluid concentration, output heat at a temperature T 2  or greater, and   taking up in an adsorber/generator with high working fluid concentration, heat at or below the intermediate temperature T 1 .   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises during the adsorption phase in said solid absorbent, directing the working fluid vapor flow to be opposite the direction of a heat transfer medium flowing in a heat exchanger embedded in said adsorbent.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises removing gases other than the working fluid vapor from a resorber of said heat transformer.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises externally exchanging heat with the adsorbent liquids/liquids used in containers of said heat transformer for changing the phase of said working fluid.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises contacting in a counter flow manner in a cooling tower, said absorbent liquid having a high working fluid concentration and a stream of gas having a low working fluid concentration,   said absorbent liquid liberating working fluid vapor to said stream of gas, and   returning said absorbent liquid to the resorber of said heat transformer with a lower working fluid concentration.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises operating in a parallel manner, several adsorber/generators,   storing in tanks, the necessary amounts of absorbent liquid with low working fluid concentration for the operations of a resorber of said heat transformer during adsorption of said working fluid in said adsorber/generators, and   storing in tanks, the necessary amounts of absorbent liquid with high working fluid concentration for the operations of the desorber during desorption of said working fluid in said adsorber/generators.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises regulating the temperature of a container of said heat transformer for changing the phase of the working fluid at a higher working fluid pressure p 1  (the desorber or evaporator), which regulates the power output in the adsorber/generator at the upper temperature T 2 .   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises using a section of a heat exchanger in the adsorber/generators, during the adsorption and/or desorption phase.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises subjecting subdivided sections of said adsorber/generators, to different working fluid pressures, during the adsorption and/or desorption phase.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises, during the adsorption phase in the solid adsorbent contained in the adsorber/generator being connected to a resorber of said heat transformer, emptying at least one said resorber of absorbent liquid.   
     
     
       23. A method for upgrading the temperature of heat in connection with a heat transformer comprising: supplying heat at an intermediate temperature T 1  to an adsorber/generator containing a solid adsorbent to desorb a working fluid from the solid adsorbent at a working fluid pressure p 0  ;   transforming said working fluid from the vapor to the liquid phase at a temperature T o  while liberating heat,   transforming the liquid phase of said working fluid to a gaseous phase at a higher working fluid pressure p 1  while taking up heat at an intermediate temperature T 1  ;   introducing said gaseous working fluid into a further adsorber/generator containing said solid adsorbent where said gaseous working fluid is adsorbed and liberates heat at a higher temperature T 2  ;   desorbing and adsorbing alternately (and shifted in phase) in the two or more adsorber/generators; and   using an adsorbent fluid which takes up heat and changes the phase of the working fluid from liquid to gaseous at a higher working fluid pressure p 1  and at the intermediate temperature T 1 .   
     
     
       24. A method for upgrading the temperature of heat in connection with a heat transformer comprising: supplying heat at an intermediate temperature T 1  to an adsorber/generator containing a solid adsorbent to desorb a working fluid from the solid adsorbent at a working fluid pressure p 0  ;   transforming said working fluid from the vapor to the liquid phase at a temperature T o  while liberating heat,   transforming the liquid phase of said working fluid to a gaseous phase at a higher working fluid pressure p 1  while taking up heat at an intermediate temperature T 1  ;   introducing said gaseous working fluid into a further adsorber/generator containing said solid adsorbent where said gaseous working fluid is adsorbed and liberates heat at a higher temperature T 2  ;   desorbing and adsorbing alternately (and shifted in phase) in the two or more adsorber/generators; and   using the adsorbent to change the phase of the working fluid from gas to liquid while liberating heat at low pressure p O  and low temperature T o .